IGP Tells Vanguard at 40: Police and Press Must Be Partners, Not Just Source and Reporter
Inspector General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, attended the public presentation of the Vanguard Chronology at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, an event marking the newspaper’s 40th anniversary under the theme Fighting Insecurity in Nigeria, The Need for Media Collaboration. The event drew dignitaries from politics, business, diplomacy, security and media. As guest speaker, the IGP praised Vanguard Media Limited’s enduring legacy, singling out founder and publisher Sam Amuka as a benchmark figure in Nigerian journalism. Disu argued that national security is not the exclusive business of law enforcement but a shared responsibility, insisting the relationship between police and press must grow beyond the traditional source and reporter dynamic into a genuine strategic partnership. He warned against the dangers of misinformation and disinformation in security reporting, calling for credible journalism, media literacy and swift official communication to counter false narratives. The IGP also pressed for accountability and transparency in handling cases of personnel misconduct, noting that a partnership cannot survive if one side demands cooperation while resisting scrutiny. Describing public trust as one of the Force’s most valuable assets, Disu urged media stakeholders to deepen collaboration with the police, framing a secure Nigeria as a victory shared by all. By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed
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